Negative constructions
Ne [...] pas is used to create negative constructions in French. Ne goes before the verb (or auxiliary verb), pas goes after the verb (or auxiliary verb):
Je veux dormir. → Je ne veux pas dormir. I want to sleep. → I don't want to sleep.
Il s'appelle Victor. → Il ne s'appelle pas Victor. He's called Victor. → He's not called Victor.
Tu aimes le chocolat. → Tu n'aimes pas le chocolat. You like chocolate. → You don't like chocolate.
In spoken, informal speech, ne is commonly omitted before the verb:
Tu viens ou tu viens pas ? Are you coming or not?
C'est pas possible ! It's not possible! There's no way!
J'y arrive pas (= Je n'y arrive pas) I can't do it, I can't manage to do it
C'est pas possible ! It's not possible! There's no way!
J'y arrive pas (= Je n'y arrive pas) I can't do it, I can't manage to do it
Careful!: We don't pronounce the s in pas.
Il ne parle pas français, Michael Jackson.
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